Drug testing

[Morgan]

As in todays Bangkok Post. Meeting friends for a drink or something to eat, can now mean being made to provide police with a urine test to prove you have not been using drugs. And not taking drugs is no guarantee that you will not be accused of being a user. The story is about a thai rap singer who was the recent victim of a false positive result.But what about tourists expats as when the test is taken if the urine turns purple this is taken as confirmation that the person has been taking methamphetamines, but this is not always the case.Test have shown the incidence of false results could be as high as 40% The result of reaction to hundreds of over the counter and prescription drugs. As the paper said Jooey Boy is just one of of many people similarly victimised but with out the clout to clear their names. Urine tests take two forms (Screening test) usually at the place of entertainment and a second (Confirmation test) at a hospital or Institute of Forensic Medicine. An officer with the Institute of Forensic Medicine said about 1,000 urine samples were sent to the institute each year for confirmation checks and about 50% showed drugs had been used. My point is how many tourists or expats would get the chance to have the second test done before having to sign a confession and being deported or fined.

Morgan

[lumar]

This is a collection of letters to Bangkok Post about the police raid in Silom soi 4 on the 10/11th of May. The raid is unusual in that it targeted the whole soi.

According to soi gossip one farang was towed away by police for daring to protest to the deputy interior minister, who was present at the scene. Indeed it seems that the government, not satisfied with the impact of war, Sars and terrorism, is determined to scare away the few tourists that still come to Thailand.

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The clump, clump of police jackboots

It seems the current government and Bangkok's finest are determined to drive away the few tourists that are still coming to the ``Land of Smiles''.

Around midnight on May 10, an ``army'' of police and officials descended on Silom Soi 4, forcing Thais and foreigners out of restaurants and bars on to the street to be degraded by being forced to give urine samples (in direct opposition to the Thai constitution's rights of the individual to freedom from oppression) in the open before being allowed to leave the soi.

Are we now heading towards a totalitarian police state where people will think twice about going out for a meal or a drink with friends?

Chris Smith

Street searches go too far

Not content with checking individual bars it looks like our home grown Gestapo are now checking entire streets. On Sunday morning about 1am an

enormous contingent of uniformed police invaded Silom soi 4. People with some form of ID were allowed to leave the soi, while others had to stay behind for a urine test. I am intrigued, and would dearly like to know if possession of a valid ID means you are not a drug user. I was a bit put out, as businesses were forced to close early, depriving them of

much needed income. Whilst agreeing in principle with the need for strict drug control and age checks, I think that Saturday night's raid could have been handled better. It does not give a very good image to visitors and hardly helps tourism.

Hawaiian shirt

An affront to human dignity

The recent raids in the Silom area raise the question of what is happening to Thai culture?

Under the guise of cracking down on drug offences, the police are targeting the wrong people. They are not putting their efforts into catching the politically connected big fish, but are harassing law-abiding citizens and tourists.

In any culture, the closing of a street with diverse establishments, including a restaurant and clothing stores, to test all customers for traces of drugs in their urine is an outrage to public decency and basic human rights.

It is discomforting enough for a man to be asked to submit a sample of urine, but to ask ladies, young and old, Thai and foreign, to submit to such an affront to human dignity is a nail in the already diminishing Thai culture of politeness and respect for others.

Tourism in Thailand is already suffering from the effects of the Sars scare. The current police policy will only exacerbate the problems of Thailand and diminish her in the eyes of the world.

Roger Hewitt

Show of authority was just for show

It is interesting to note that the police crackdown on Silom Soi 4 on May 10 seems to have been more of a publicity stunt than an actual police exercise.

The storming of the soi by 40-odd uniformed police officers was impressive but lost all credibility in my eyes when the deputy interior minister and other high officials made their grand entry escorted by high-ranking police officials and followed by a TV crew. These officials were filmed entering bars, inspecting the places and even interviewing a couple of foreigners picked at random from a terrace.

I appreciate that high officials get involved in their operations, but Soi 4 hardly seems to be a criminal spot worthy of such a massive display of force.

I believe the government has other means to advertise its actions than to keep hundreds of people locked up in bars for a few hours and further degrade the now long-gone spirit of Bangkok nightlife.

Emmanuel Garcia

The clump, clump of police jackboots

It seems the current government and Bangkok's finest are determined to drive away the few tourists that are still coming to the ``Land of Smiles''.

Around midnight on May 10, an ``army'' of police and officials descended on Silom Soi 4, forcing Thais and foreigners out of restaurants and bars on to the street to be degraded by being forced to give urine samples (in direct opposition to the Thai constitution's rights of the individual to freedom from oppression) in the open before being allowed to leave the soi.

Are we now heading towards a totalitarian police state where people will think twice about going out for a meal or a drink with friends?

Chris Smith

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Source:

http://www.bangkokpost.com

[PattayaSteve]

Let me get this straight.  On May 10/11, a Saturday night, the restaurants and bars in Nana Plaza were emptied and everyone was urine tested for drugs?  If this is true, I will no longer frequent Nana Plaza on future trips to Thailand. If it has a bad reputation with the police, I want no part of it.

[PattayaSteve]

No takers, huh?  Okay It was Silom Soi 4 and not Sukhumvit Soi 4.  Easy mistake for a rookie.  It sounds like it was more of a Political Photo Opportunity than a serious drug raid.